By Dennis Okechukwu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday attended the national premiere of MKO, a documentary chronicling the life of late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Nigeria’s historic June 12 pro-democracy struggle.
The premiere, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, was part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The documentary, produced by US-based filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, examines Abiola’s political journey, the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the subsequent struggle by Nigerians and pro-democracy activists for the restoration of democratic rule.
The event was attended by several senior government officials and dignitaries, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas; Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun; Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang; and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Others included Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev; former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba; members of the National Assembly and other dignitaries.
Welcoming the President and guests, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, described the documentary as an important effort to preserve the history of the June 12 struggle and the sacrifices made for democracy.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, led the gathering in observing a minute’s silence for Nigerians who lost their lives or suffered persecution, imprisonment, exile and other forms of repression during the struggle.
Onanuga paid tribute to prominent pro-democracy figures, including Anthony Enahoro, Adekunle Ajasin, Abraham Adesanya, Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Alfred Rewane, Frank Kokori, Ndubuisi Kanu, Dan Suleiman, Chima Ubani, Bola Ige, Cornelius Adebayo, Ayo Adebanjo and Balarabe Musa.
He also recognised the contributions of journalists, lawyers, students, workers, academics, labour unions and Nigerians in the diaspora who supported the campaign against military rule.
According to Onanuga, many Nigerians were detained without trial, forced into exile or lost their livelihoods and property because of their opposition to military rule and their demand for the restoration of the June 12 mandate.
He said the documentary was not only a tribute to Abiola but also a reminder of the collective sacrifices made by Nigerians in defence of democracy.
> “The democracy we enjoy today was built upon the courage and sacrifices of the people we have identified. We owe them more than remembrance. We owe them a duty to ensure that no authority ever again overturns the freely expressed will of Nigerians,” Onanuga said.
He added that the sacrifices of the pro-democracy activists were not in vain, noting that Nigeria has maintained uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999.
Onanuga also said Abiola, who became the symbol of the June 12 struggle, had been officially acknowledged as the winner of the 1993 presidential election.
Musawa said the documentary chronicles events surrounding the June 12 election, its annulment by the military government, Abiola’s arrest in 1994 after declaring his mandate and his death in detention in 1998.
She described the 1993 election as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest polls and stressed the importance of preserving accounts of the events for younger generations.
“This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” she said.
The minister urged Nigerians to protect the country’s democratic institutions and ensure that the will of the electorate is not again overturned.
Oyamendan, the documentary producer, thanked Tinubu and other individuals and organisations that supported the project.
He recalled interviewing Tinubu when he was a senator in 1992 and praised the President for what he described as his commitment to democratic principles and support for the documentary.
MKO is expected to preserve an important chapter in Nigeria’s political history while giving younger Nigerians an opportunity to learn about the personalities, events and sacrifices that shaped the country’s democratic journey.